Page 27

“Owen?” I rap my knuckles against his bedroom door and lean in.

He’s lying on his stomach on the bed, doing some sort of coloring thing for school before he goes back in two days.

He’s coming to work with me today, so he’s already fully dressed.

He looks up and smiles, scurrying to roll off the bed and stand up. I hide my laugh behind a cough.

“Is it time to go now?” he asks excitedly. I nod, watching him skip down the hallway to the living room. He came home from hanging out with Brian a couple of days ago, showing me for a solid half an hour how he learned to skip.

“It is,” I answer, trailing behind him to collect the coloring book, crayons, and the few toys that I’m hoping will keep him entertained for the three hours of practice and physical therapy.

The guys are getting basic checkups today, weigh-ins and attempting different stretches, to make sure they’re healthy and doing okay.

“Are we seeing Gabe today?” Owen sits on the floor to put his shoes on. We’re still learning how to tie the laces. As much as I want to step in and help, I know that he isn’t going to learn unless he tries on his own.

“We are.” I can’t help the smile that pulls at my lips .

The winter break lasted for three weeks, but there were games during that time.

A few of them were away games, so I didn’t get to see Gabe nearly as much as I wanted to, but we did spend the holidays with his family again.

Just like Thanksgiving, there was a lot of playful banter and happiness all around.

I had to bury my face against Gabe’s shoulder to hide my tears when Owen realized that some of the presents piled up were for him.

His own grandparents stopped by the day after to give him a few presents.

It was strained between the three of us, but Owen seemed happy that they stopped by.

And Gabe helped to keep the conversation going.

It was the first time he properly met them and most of the conversation revolved around Owen.

Hearing the way Gabe gave every compliment he could to Owen warmed my heart.

They left after a simple lunch, and we haven’t heard from them since.

“Daddy?”

I turn around to see Owen still sitting on the floor. He’s taken up so many mannerisms from Gabe, it’s almost comical. He has his feet flat on the floor and his elbows are propped up on his knees. I can’t even call him my mini me anymore.

“What’s up, buddy?”

“Is Gabe going to live here with us?” I zip up the bookbag I’m packing and step over to kneel in front of him.

“Do you want Gabe to live here?” I ask. I know that Gabe has been spending a lot of nights here. Unfortunately, with his game schedule and me having Owen, we can’t sneak away whenever we want.

“Did you know that Lacey, a friend in my class, has two daddies? She says they all have fun and hang out. Like me, you, and Gabe. ”

That doesn’t answer my question, but this is a big conversation, and Owen is trying to relay his thoughts the only way he knows how. “We do have a lot of fun, don’t we?”

Owen moves to stand up, shoes all but forgotten. I hold a hand up to keep him from running and potentially tripping. He keeps talking while I tie his shoes.

“Lacey says that her daddies share a bedroom too, like you and Gabe. And they dated before they became daddies.”

It’s no secret to Owen that Gabe sleeps in bed with me. I know we had that brief conversation about dating, but I wasn’t sure if that stuck. I know we did things a bit backward and fast, but everything feels so natural with us.

I straighten my back so I’m kneeling on one knee, eye level with my kid. But, before I can form the question I want to ask him, he’s talking again.

“Is Gabe my second Daddy?”

The question takes me by surprise, and I have no idea how to answer. Of course, if we’re talking long-run plans, I’d love for the three of us to be a family on paper as much as we already consider ourselves, but it’s not something Gabe and I have discussed.

“I think we have a while before that happens, buddy,” I say, treading lightly. “But he still loves you just as much as I do. Maybe one day he will be. Are you ready to go?” I finish tying his other shoe and he takes off toward the door.

***

When we get to the arena, Owen bounces in his car seat, brimming with excitement.

This isn’t his first time here and he absolutely loves coming to the PT room.

Some of the team is out in the hallway when we walk in.

They greet us in passing. I’ve come to know each of their names as the season has continued.

Harry is the one that started the running tally marks of how many bruises each of them get during a game.

I think Enrique has the most points right now, not that I’m encouraging them as their physical therapist.

“Daddy Gabe!” Owen shouts immediately upon us entering the room. Every head turns toward us, including Coach. Owen runs across the room and right into Gabe’s arms. Of everyone in the room —all nine in total— Gabe seems the least fazed by Owen’s outburst.

“Hey, little man.”

“Daddy?” One of the guys repeats as I walk past them all seated on the bench. “When did you become Daddy?”

“I’m sorry,” I say when I finally reach where Gabe is now standing beside Overton. “We had a conversation this morning and I thought I made it clear that we weren’t going to use that word.”

“But you said he loves me like you do. So he’s basically my Daddy.”

Apparently, my answer was not clear enough for Owen’s brain. I don’t think I was ever so hard-headed and decisive at his age. I haven’t yet decided if I love the trait in him or not. At least he sticks to whatever decision he’s made in his brain.

“I do love you, buddy,” Gabe says, not helping the situation. I shoot him a look, but Overton speaks up before either of us can say anything.

“What’s this about?” Coach asks, waving a finger between the two of us. “I shoulda’ guessed something was up when you had that deer-in-the-headlight look when I suggested Gabe follow you around that first day. ”

“We met before either of us knew who the other was,” Gabe explains, taking charge of the situation.

I let my shoulders relax when Coach just nods and smirks.

“It wasn’t until the first practice that we realized.

A whole month of talking and we never discussed our day-jobs or whatever.

Then I guess neither one of us really wanted to say anything in case faculty dating students wasn’t allowed. ”

Overton shrugs. “Well, I don’t think there are any rules against training staff dating students. Just don’t screw it up and make this awkward for everyone.”

“Got it, Coach.” Gabe responds, then gives me a wink. I roll my eyes and nod at Overton.

“Yes, sir.”

“Alright, well, let’s get to work then.”

I set Owen up at my desk with his toys and coloring while I work. The guys are coming in two at a time and going through a round of tests. It’s more in-depth testing and stretching from what I learned in past jobs and internships, but I get the hang of it after the first one.

They jump on a treadmill first and do a light stress test before coming to either me or Frankie. I start with them doing basic stretches, bending to touch their toes and standing on one foot, and then have them lay on the treatment table.

I make small talk with each of them during this part.

Word travels fast through the team and, while I’m either pushing them to stretch their knee to their chest or doing side crunches, they’re prying into my personal life.

It’s all in good fun, I know it is, and it’s kind of nice to be able to talk about it.

Gabe is right there, waiting his turn and constantly checking on Owen, joking along with them .

When it’s finally Gabe’s turn for his exam, I’m not sure if I should offer for Frankie to do it. I’m still worried about there being some rule against us being together. My Daddy must see the worry on my face, because he steps closer to me and presses his lips against mine softly.

Those in the room with us erupt with cheers, and I can hear footsteps in the hallway too. When Gabe pulls back, he’s smiling ear-to-ear. I’m pretty sure I am too.

“Nothing to worry about, baby.” He brushes a finger down the side of my face before dropping his hands from my body altogether.

“Thank you, Daddy.” I whisper it low enough for no one else to hear or possibly be able to read my lips. “Let’s get started, shall we? Take off your shirt.”

“I’m sure he’s used that line before!” Mason jokes, earning a chuckle from Gabe.

I run my fingers along Gabe’s spine, frowning slightly at the way the vertebrae stick out more than anyone else’s.

I know his body is lean and he puts serious hours in at the gym, but I also know that I’ve felt his back plenty of times and this isn’t how he usually feels.

He stands back up and moves into the next stretch without a word.

Mason continues to speak. “I’m the unlucky guy that has to share a room with him on away games. The amount of lovey-dovey chat during those phone calls is disgusting, really.”

“You’re just jealous I scored the perfect guy,” Gabe taunts as he lays down on the table. As much as I want to enjoy the playful chirping, my brain is focused on the job. My brain doesn’t like what it sees. “ And more points than you so far this season.”

There’s a chorus of ‘ooh’s in the room, followed by laughter.

Gabe’s body is laid out before me and, as much as I want to joke and the thought of playing Doctor is in the back of my mind, I pull out my clipboard and make a few notes.

His chart shows that he’s dropped almost ten pounds since the beginning of the season.

“Baby?” Warm fingers wrap around my wrist, and I look over the clipboard to meet Gabe’s eyes.